Mixed Emotions

by MIA HEINTZELMAN

  With Mike in charge, delegating, working the logistics, and analyzing everything she did, Zora narrowed the recipes down to three blended breakfast meals to send to Leanne in the morning: a pan-fried churro French toast with banana pudding dipping sauce and pecan sprinkles; huevos Sardou con salsa y sémola; and pan-seared shrimp and chorizo in an aioli rémoulade sauce with cinnamon sweet potatoes and vine-ripened strawberries.

  After she typed them up, she whipped out the pots and pans and got to the business of cooking.

  She couldn’t believe how fast everything was coming together. Soon, the house was warm with tangy, spicy, and sweet scents tangoing in the air. She and Mike were doing a dance of their own, rotating and twirling around each other, filling every space of the kitchen as they moved. They were communicating without saying a word.

  Thank you.

  I’ve got your back.

  I couldn’t have done this without you.

  Try as she might, Zora couldn’t fight the smile toying at her lips. This. They were just being with one another without having to say a word. It was what she imagined the good stuff was about. They were impossibly close, touching and laughing so comfortably, and it warmed her heart. This was home and happiness to her. She couldn’t imagine ever letting it go.

  Just for a second, she wondered if that was how Mom felt about Joseph at the beginning.

  Zora was busy perfecting her poach on the Sardou part of her huevos Sardou—delicately pouring the creamed spinach and hollandaise sauce over the eggs—when Mike cleared his throat. He was still chopping away at the onions, tomatoes, and cilantro for the salsa as he spoke.

  “You’re going to need photos, right?”

  “Yeah. I’ll probably just take some with my phone for now.” She hated the tinge of bitterness in her tone. God, she didn’t want to lose him…or herself.

  He squeezed a lime, letting the juice drip into his mixture then looked up at Zora. “Personally, I think we should get Olivia over here to take some professional pics to send.”

  She stopped everything she was doing and met Mike’s mischievous gaze with a lifted brow. Oh, you are sneaky, Mike Kennedy. “I know exactly what you’re doing.”

  He moved a few inches from his side of the counter over to Zora. It was barely noticeable, but she saw the slight curl of his lips. “Divide and conquer.”

  It was all he said, but she was definitely reading between the lines. Without Oli’s co-conspirators around, Mike and Zora could play good cop-bad cop on her and get all the information they needed. It wouldn’t be hard to break her since Zora knew the telltale signs she was lying. She’d start out with pursed lips and a furrowed brow and ease her way into a light tug of her earlobe. If she was really telling a whopper, there was the extra-dramatic, full-body yawn-stretch.

  Oh, I can’t wait to call Oli on her shit.

  Between Andre and the love intervention, Zora was ready for some payback.

  On the phone, she played her part—dramatic, crestfallen, woe-is-me complete with sniffles and a sizeable gulp over the faux-lump in her throat. She begged Oli to come because it was a “911 girlfriend emergency.”

  When she got off the line, Mike was smiling widely.

  It was going to be so good.

  As soon as the doorbell rang, Zora wrung her fingers and took a few breaths as Mike eased into the living room toward the door. She cracked her neck and shook out her shoulders before she hunched over the sink and let her head hang dramatically. For good measure, she quivered her lips then quickly stopped. Overkill. She needed to be subtle.

  It was showtime.

  She heard Mike open the door. “She’s in the kitchen—straight back through the living room and to the left,” he said loud enough for Zora to hear.

  Slowly Zora lifted her head, her eyelids were low and hopefully giving off the I’m helplessly doomed without you look she was aiming for.

  As soon as Oli came into view, it was obvious she’d been sleeping and the call had scared her. She was out of breath, her hair was wild, and she was in flannel pajama bottoms with a tank and her camera bag slung over her shoulder. She came flying past the couch and threw the bag onto the floor as she reached the island.

  “I’m here!” Her eyes flew through the air frantically, like she wasn’t quite sure what to do with them.

  She’s crying? Shit. Zora might have crossed the line.

  Zora straightened slightly and scanned the counter, trying to see it from Oli’s perspective. Her reaction might have had something to do with the curated mess in front of her. Aside from Zora’s doe eyes and the flour expertly dusted across her cheeks (courtesy of Mike) for dramatic effect, she was barely standing upright against the kitchen counter. She was sort of hunched over in what she now knew looked like agony.

  “I can’t do this.” Zora threw her face into her hands unsure how to fix the situation. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m—“

  Before she could finish her thespian-worthy monologue, Oli was at her side. “I’m here now. We’re going to get you through this. Let me just see what we’re working with.”

  She scanned the counter. Three beautifully dressed breakfast plates lined the granite. They looked mouth-watering, colorful and camera-ready.

  Oli leaned in closer, scrutinizing the dishes. “I can’t see what you’re missing here. This all looks great. In fact, it’s making me pretty hungry.”

  Time for the switch flip.

  “Oh, yeah? I think it’s missing a few things.” Zora stood up taller and cocked her head. She sort of felt bad about the ruse, but Oli did have it coming.

  She stared, waiting for Oli to turn around. For a prop, she picked up the measuring spoons. “Let’s see. If we want it to taste like love, I guess it needs a few teaspoons of misdirection. I don’t know, like maybe a fake fumigation and alleged dry rot…definitely, a tablespoon of secrets you keep from your best friend.” Zora cocked her head and flashed Oli a pointed glare.

  “Uh…” Oli looked at her like she was crazy.

  Nope, you don’t get to play innocent.

  Zora slowly edged around the island until she was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mike. Both of them had their arms folded, and their eyes shot daggers at Oli.

  “Oh, and a cup of family meddling. That’s always the best flavor to go with a gallon of lies.” Zora lifted a brow and shook her head. “Don’t look so surprised. We’re not as dumb as you think we are. We know about the little plan you and my brother and Sophia put together to hook us up. Go ahead, try to lie about it. I dare you.”

  Pursed lips. Check.

  Furrowed brow. Double-check.

  “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  There was the light tug of the earlobe.

  “You are in rare form tonight. I’m just waiting for the dramatic yawn-stretch because I know you’re about to conjure up some whopper of a lie. Let’s not waste each other’s time. Just tell us the truth.”

  Oli’s shoulders slumped and she closed her eyes. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

  Before Zora could start, Mike jumped in with his burning question, which was not exactly the direction she hoped they would go, but she guessed it was at least a start.

  “Is Patton Place really infested with termites and dry rot, or not?”

  “No,” she muttered.

  Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. My turn.

  “Okay. Do you really have family in town staying at your place, or did you just want me to stay with Mike?” Zora asked.

  To this question, Oli met her eyes. “You know I would let you stay with me. I wouldn’t have cared if you had to sleep on the couch or the floor or the ceiling, but this was bigger than you crashing at my spot. To answer your question, yes. My cousin was in town for two days over a weekend, so technically it wasn’t a lie.”

  “Then why are Sophia and Everett in Las Vegas? Did they…elope?”

  A laugh escaped Oli’s lips and she held onto the sink, her sho
ulders rising and falling as she shook her head. “No,” she said adamantly. “They would never do that to you guys.”

  “Then, why?” Mike asked.

  “If it was going to be believable, Everett and Sophia couldn’t stay home, so they decided to go stay with her mom and do a little staycation. They couldn't give you Patton Place as an option. We figured we had to eliminate all your other options. We took away Patton Place and my house, first. We knew hotels wouldn’t be feasible long-term, so Sophia got her realtor to help you…” She cringed as she let the other shoe drop. “And conveniently show you the worst places she could find.”

  Zora wanted to laugh because Ellen had shown her some pretty heinous places, but this still wasn’t a laughing matter. Even though they were getting to the truth, it still felt sly and underhanded, like she and Mike were getting the short end of the stick somehow.

  She blinked and looked away. “You guys really went out of your way for this…scheme.”

  “Don’t think of it like that.” Oli’s voice was softer and pleading. “We love you guys, and we just want you to stop getting in your own way.”

  Mike unfolded his arms and glanced over at Zora, then ran his warm hand down the nape of her neck. “Zo, they meant well.”

  But it still didn't feel right.

  Why am I so mad?

  Zora bit her lip a little too hard. “So then you did lie about inviting Mike to the silent disco. Is that why you were pushing so hard for me to be with Andre that night? That’s pretty fucked up. You wanted him to see me kissing another man. You wanted Mike to be hurt.”

  The accusation lulled in the air like a thick, oily haze. It was sticky, and it felt wrong to do this to her best friend, but Zora needed to understand the root of this thing. What were they all hoping would happen?

  “I wanted you to remember what you guys had!” Oli shouted in a burst of emotion. Her hands were shaking, and her face was flushed.

  She inhaled and began again a little more gently. “We all wanted you guys to get out of your own way and recognize you have something special. That shit doesn’t just come along every day, and you guys were taking it for granted. So, if that makes me a bad friend for wanting the best for you, for loving you too much, then so be it. I love you, Zo. Both of you. And I know how much you love each other.”

  Is it that simple?

  It all sounded sweet and lovely, but was it realistic? Yes, Zora loved simply being with Mike. Every second they spent together was proof they worked well as a team, but where was the family circus going to be when her house was built and Mike went about his merry way? What was going to happen when everything went sideways?

  I guess I’ll find out. Fuck it.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Mike

  By Thursday afternoon, Mike was seriously considering skywriting his thanks to Everett, Sophia, and Olivia from Portland to Las Vegas. Every night since Olivia spilled the beans about their impromptu intervention, Zora had slept in Mike’s bed. She staked her claim on the right side, but always managed to ease her way into the middle to find him rock-hard and ready for her.

  When they’d confronted Olivia, Mike thought Zora was going to be pissed, but to his surprise and sheer gratitude, shedding light only seemed to open her heart and knock down her guards. Being together was beginning to feel less like a charade and more like fate working to realign the stars.

  Mike couldn’t be happier.

  It was what he’d always wanted, even though he’d imagined it happening under different circumstances.

  He couldn't remember the last time he was completely satisfied. His happiness at home and at work was all because of Zora. The woman was feeding him mind, body, and soul—heavy emphasis on the body part. Even now, it was lunchtime and he was still stuffed from a hearty breakfast, but he ate the grilled lemon pepper chicken and vegetables for lunch because she’d made it.

  “Kendra,” he yelled from his office into the lobby. “It’s almost one. Any cancellation from Arnold?”

  Mike scarfed down the last bite of his chicken, beaming as he tucked the empty Tupperware container back into the lunch bag Zora packed for him—another little piece of her that stayed with him. He was smiling on the inside. Pride. Zora lit up at the sight of his empty containers. It was like it made her feel good to know he was eating and enjoying food she prepared.

  Something about seeing her happy…it thrilled him.

  From the hall, Kendra’s raspy reply bounced off the walls. “Not yet. Looks like that two-faced dog is going to show his ass today. No call. No show. Tacky.”

  Mike laughed as he adjusted his chair and logged back into his computer. “All right. I guess we’re nipping this thing in the bud today.”

  “Damn right, we are.”

  Mike leaned back in his chair and rocked as he lifted his chin. A slow smile tugged at his lips and lightness settled in his chest. He was relaxed. Deep down, he knew it was because of Zora. Things that would usually bother him rolled right off of him. All week, she had reassured him that he was making the right decision about Arnold. As Mike helped her cook, she waded through the pros and cons of doing business with a company which not only lacked genuine concern for Monroe Properties but proved its intent to undermine it.

  This was what it felt like to be seen and heard.

  “Child, you know he’s going to stroll in here and think he’s got this shit under wraps, too.” Kendra was still thinking out loud from the lobby, laughter bubbling from her. “It’d serve him right if we weren’t here if and when he finally decided to show his face.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s got another thing coming this time.”

  Mike glanced over to his phone on the desk, absently tapping his fingertips together. He halfway wanted Arnold to skip their meeting. Getting off early wasn’t the worst idea. He’d get to see Zora sooner.

  He refocused on his computer screen for a few seconds only to have the idea snag his thoughts.

  What’s the harm in a quick text?

  It was killing him not to send Zora a message just to let her know he was thinking about her. He swiped his phone off the desk and let his thumbs hover over the keyboard before stopping short.

  “No. Let her have some space,” he mumbled to himself as he replaced the phone on the desk. He inhaled and blew out a breath, leaning back in the chair with his hands clasped behind his head.

  “Where is this guy? Should we just call it, and knock off for the rest of the day?

  Mike got to his feet with sigh. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a few extra hours of personal time.” To make it home early to Zora….

  “You won’t hear any complaints from me,” Kendra said.

  Naturally, that’s when Arnold decided to strut into the building.

  As much as Mike wanted to rush home to Zora, he wanted to make this business decision face to face. Zora’s confidence in him and his abilities to make a great partner, in business and in life, meant the world to him. Whether she’d said it directly or not, unknowingly, the examples she gave when they talked about going into business with Arnold lent themselves to the spark growing between him and Zora. Good partnerships needed to be based in loyalty and for the long-term, she said. It was about what they could both bring to the table and why it was better because of each team player. Even more, it couldn't be based on conditions and contingencies. It needed to be a choice that made both parties feel lucky to have found the other.

  She was right. On so many levels. He felt lucky as hell. He wanted to prove himself to be the kind of partner both Zora and Everett would choose in business. Maybe he was reading too deeply into, but he wanted to be the partner Zora wanted in love.

  Mike gathered the files as Kendra showed an unapologetically late Mr. Arnold into the conference room.

  Despite being over thirty minutes late, he walked in squinting with a hard smile and a dismissive nod. He had salt-and-pepper hair with a heavy side-part, steely blue eyes, pockmarked jowls, and a dishonest politic
ian’s gray suit complete with an ugly matching tie and pocket-square.

  “Sorry about the time. Got caught up in business meetings. You know how these things go.” He winked and laughed a fake, underhanded cackle that belied his pompous, nose-in-the-air demeanor. He must have felt that the deal was all wrapped up, and this meeting was simply a minor detail to be checked off his list of menial things to do for the day.

  Oh, this is going to be entertaining. Thirty minutes late. You’re lucky I don’t want to prolong this any more than I have to.

  Mike took wide steps around the table, allowing his arms to swing as he walked. “So glad you could make it,” he said, extending his hand for a strong handshake as he leaned in. “Forgive me, but I have one of those business meetings myself in half an hour, so if you don’t mind…” He held his hand out to the table, motioning for Arnold to be seated in the chair closest to the exit.

  “Ah, yes. Sure, sure,” he said, sounding put out by the leading gesture. By his grimace, Mike could tell he assumed he’d be the one running the show.

  Here goes nothing.

  When Mike was seated across from Arnold, he shifted in the chair and resumed an easy-going manner while looking him directly in the eye. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Mr. Arnold, but in preparation for our meeting today, or last week, I did some research on Arnold Investments. Just a requisite review…checks and balances.” He tapped his fingertips together and met Arnold’s gaze. His expression had gone from exaggerated casualness to pinched.

  Don’t look so surprised.

  “I gotta be honest here,” Arnold began. “I don’t think it’s your place to be completing any reviews on my company. The name on the sign out there is ‘Monroe.’ I’ve been working with Everett and his family for all these years because of loyalty.”

  Is that what we’re calling it?

  Mike’s top lip curled and laughter bubbled up inside him. His posture was strong—shoulders back, chest out, chin high. This is too good. “With all due respect, Mr. Arnold, due diligence is exactly what I was hired to do. I know all about loyalty, which is why I’ve been with this company since Everett took over and he grew it to what it is today—a competitive, profitable enterprise, forecasted to double its market value in the next two quarters. It is precisely because I’m looking out for Monroe Properties that it has achieved these milestones ethically and legally.”